Video games are bad

[MikeLastort2]

Watching the nightly news on NBC and ABC, and BOTH had stories about violent video game being bad for kids.

What a load of crap.

I grew up playing with toy guns, playing army with friends, bang bang you're dead, all that sort of stuff, and I NEVER had an impulse to shoot someone for real. Video games are the modern equivalent of playing army.

And if parents don't want kids to play these games, parents SHOULDN'T LET THEM!!!

[skipshady]

I remember, the first time I played Super Mario Brothers, I had this uncontrollable urge to step on giant mushrooms and kick turtles around.

[nicodemus]

The only bad thing about video games is that they are too expensive and too addictive....and maybe that you can actually make the characters have sex in Grand Theft Auto.

[Father Ted]

It's like these whacky liberals saying guns are evil. They need to figure out that guns dont select targets and pull the trigger themselves. Same goes with video games, movies etc.

[Duuuuude]

So do you support mandatory waiting periods and background checks for video game purchases?

[Ted Cikowski]

studies show kids playing violent videogames have different brainwave activity than those who don't...the difference is more prevelant than watching movies or even listening to death metal.

[Foosinho]

Originally posted by skipshady
I remember, the first time I played Super Mario Brothers, I had this uncontrollable urge to step on giant mushrooms and kick turtles around.

Me too! But I couldn't find any giant mushrooms or turtles after searching for about five minutes, so I gave up.

[SportBoy321]

rap music is much worse for kids than video games. Listening to an Eminem record will do more harm to them than playing Grand Theft Auto. It's fantasy its not reality. Kids know is just a video game its not real. When they listen to their favorite rapper spew out vulgar,vile and hatefull lyrics they begin to think its ok to talk and act like that. When Eminem talks about killing his wife he's not being serious but how is a kid to know that. Its a real person saying that stuff its not graphics on a tv screen. Rap music does more damage to the youth than violent games.

[ToddP25]

I don't think either are bad........Parents are just looking for an excuse when there kids are f-ed up.....They just suck it up and try PARENTING....So tired of excuses.....

[Michael K.]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Watching the nightly news on NBC and ABC, and BOTH had stories about violent video game being bad for kids.


Saw the same thing on both channels last night.

I'm at an age where I've played these games, they're ok (I don't own GTA3, played it a couple times here and there) but nothing especially compelling nor evil to me; I'm very much anti-gun, anti-violence, 'liberal wacko' in some people's words, but don't think you have to ban these things outright. After all, I spent enough time shooting up everyone I could find in Goldeneye, not to mention all those formative years spent playing Contra, Mortal Kombat (remember the furor over that?) etc. And as far as I know, I'm all right.

That said, I think about having kids someday, and I really can't imagine I'd want my kids playing games like Vice City at 5 or 6, or even 10 or 11 years old, only slightly because of the violence and lurid themes themselves (you can explain these things, and as a parent you should), but probably more because of Ted's reason - that too much TV/video games/internet :eek: may wreak havoc on a child's cognition skills, neural development, attention span, etc. I know that's tricky territory and you can probably find scientists who argue for and against any adverse consequences, but I won't want to take that risk.

[Michael K.]

Originally posted by SportBoy321
rap music is much worse for kids than video games. Listening to an Eminem record will do more harm to them than playing Grand Theft Auto. It's fantasy its not reality. Kids know is just a video game its not real.

I would not generalize about this.

[SportBoy321]

This current generation of kids is gonna get F'D. They're just gonna keep on getting fatter sitting in front of their computers all day.

[Michael K.]

Originally posted by SportBoy321
This current generation of kids is gonna get F'D. They're just gonna keep on getting fatter sitting in front of their computers all day.

Kids? Who cares about the kids?

Thank God we can't do a study of us all, pre-Bigsoccer era till now.

[ToddP25]

Originally posted by SportBoy321
This current generation of kids is gonna get F'D. They're just gonna keep on getting fatter sitting in front of their computers all day.

Now, that is a different argument....but, it still falls back on the parent....can't blame a company putting out video games for the piss poor parents that are being created.....

I have a daughter...granted she is just under two...but, the majority of the time is spent reading and playing with her....not dropping her in front of the television. If parents are allowing it...how can it be the companies fault. Now, I haven't played Grand Theft Auto...but, I sure as hell want to....sounds fun.....I would question a parent that would buy a game for a 6-10 year old where one of the goals is to get a prostitute though....

[Alberto]

Originally posted by ToddP25
Now, that is a different argument....but, it still falls back on the parent....can't blame a company putting out video games for the piss poor parents that are being created.....

I have a daughter...granted she is just under two...but, the majority of the time is spent reading and playing with her....not dropping her in front of the television. If parents are allowing it...how can it be the companies fault. Now, I haven't played Grand Theft Auto...but, I sure as hell want to....sounds fun.....I would question a parent that would buy a game for a 6-10 year old where one of the goals is to get a prostitute though....

A lot of parents either don't care or don't read the game rating and accompanying description. I was in the video store about a month ago and again there was another parent (not the first time I have witnessed this) purchasing Grand Theft Auto for a 11 or 12 year old kid. They asked about it and the sales rep told her that it was rated M, and told her about the game and I mentioned it was really not appropriate given the violence and the cynical nature of the game. She still purchased it.

[ToddP25]

Originally posted by Alberto
A lot of parents either don't care or don't read the game rating and accompanying description. I was in the video store about a month ago and again there was another parent (not the first time I have witnessed this) purchasing Grand Theft Auto for a 11 or 12 year old kid. They asked about it and the sales rep told her that it was rated M, and told her about the game and I mentioned it was really not appropriate given the violence and the cynical nature of the game. She still purchased it.

See...thats terrible.....not the games fault though, not everything can be geared towards children. I'm sure if that same kid came home and asked mom to pick him up some anal porn she would have some reservations....Some parents are idiots....you should have to apply for sperm and eggs....too many dolts out there creating children.

[DoctorJones24]

Originally posted by ToddP25
See...thats terrible.....not the games fault though, not everything can be geared towards children. I'm sure if that same kid came home and asked mom to pick him up some anal porn she would have some reservations....Some parents are idiots....you should have to apply for sperm and eggs....too many dolts out there creating children.

This is funny. Aren't you the same guy who was all bent out of shape, along with half the other mindless posts early in this thread, that video games were gettting a "bad rap"? Well if you don't want news shows to do stories on how bad these games are for kids (and EVERY sociological study ever done supports this obvious claim), then how are the parents supposed to be kept aware? I mean, in an economic system that increasingly requires both parents to work full time just to stay afloat, not to mention the millions of single parents, isn't it the job of the media to try to help keep parents informed. Let's face it, the kids aren't going to do it, and in fact, kids are experts at manipulating the truth to their parents. Was it your parents' stupidity and laziness to blame every time you were able to pull the wool over their eyes? I doubt it.

I didn't see the show, so I can't comment on what actual recommendations were made, if any. But if they were both just "exposes" of how bad these games really are, then what's the problem? Actually, I think it's likely that such shows only make these games MORE popular and enticing to younger kids. I'm sure Eminem and Marilyn Manson absolutey jump for joy whenever some show gives them free advertising like this.

[ToddP25]

Actually, that is a valid point....

I went off on a tangent and left the original idea of thread behind....And yes, whether you think it is mindless or not...I do not believe that playing a video game or listening to rap music is making anyone more or less violent.

[GringoTex]

Originally posted by MikeLastort2
Watching the nightly news on NBC and ABC, and BOTH had stories about violent video game being bad for kids.

What a load of crap.

I grew up playing with toy guns, playing army with friends, bang bang you're dead, all that sort of stuff, and I NEVER had an impulse to shoot someone for real. Video games are the modern equivalent of playing army.


I disagree. Playing army or cowboys&indians required imagination,creativity, and social skills. Video games require none- it's all about sensory pleasure from repetitive action.

I'm not saying necessarily that video games make kids violent. But play acting's definitely more emotionally and intellectually healthy than video games.

[Alberto]

Originally posted by DoctorJones24
I mean, in an economic system that increasingly requires both parents to work full time just to stay afloat, not to mention the millions of single parents, isn't it the job of the media to try to help keep parents informed. Let's face it, the kids aren't going to do it, and in fact, kids are experts at manipulating the truth to their parents. Was it your parents' stupidity and laziness to blame every time you were able to pull the wool over their eyes? I doubt it.

I didn't see the show, so I can't comment on what actual recommendations were made, if any. But if they were both just "exposes" of how bad these games really are, then what's the problem? Actually, I think it's likely that such shows only make these games MORE popular and enticing to younger kids. I'm sure Eminem and Marilyn Manson absolutey jump for joy whenever some show gives them free advertising like this.

This is a load of crap! You cannot vacate your responsibility as a parent because life is complicated and you work long hours. Even if you are a single parent. Will there be times you can't supervise your kids? Absolutely! Sorry, but when you accept the responsibility of parenting you have to take the interest and keep tabs on what your kids watch and play. My son wanted me to purchase GTA III and I read the box and said no. He knows I own it, but he also knows he is not old enough at 12 to play the game. In fact I must say it was the worst $50 bucks I ever spent. I played several hours, completed several missions and lost interest. I haven't played the game in 9-10 months. It is mean spirited and the objectives are quite evil and desensitizing. At first it was fun running down pedestrians and killing people. After a while it got repetitive and quite empty.

Ultimately responsibility lies with the parents. Not the media. Not the school and not anyone else we in today's society wish to blame for our own shortcomings and lack of determination in doing what is right for our children.